Lake levels drop while tourism stays steady

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports 'banner' year for lake tourism despite the drought

July 18, 2012|by Mike Landis, KY3 News | mlandis@ky3.com

BRANSON, Mo. - Table Rock Lake's new multi-million dollar visitors center is enjoying its first summer in business.

“People just absolutely love it,” said Sheila Thomas, executive director of Ozarks Rivers Heritage Foundation, which manages the new Dewey Short Visitors Center in a partnership with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers. “Since we have opened, I think we have had 40,000 people through the center,” she added.

The view from the observation deck is breathtaking, but, for the guests, there is less of the lake to see.

“Although it’s lower than we might like it, it is still awesome for whoever want to us it for fun,” Thomas said.

Thomas explains the drought and low water levels have had no effect on business.

“They are still able to swim and boat and fish, so that is probably all they are concerned about at this point,” she stated.

“We are having a banner year on Table Rock Lake; all the commercial marinas are having great business, so people are still coming out,” said Greg Oller, the Corps' manager of Table Rock Lake.

However, the levels are about to drop even more.

With the hot weather has come an increased demand for electricity from homes and businesses running AC units. That means more water has to be let out of the lake through the powerhouse.

“With these lower lake levels, people need to be aware that there are submerged obstacles that, when the lake level is higher, you don't see them; now you do,” Oller said.

Dock and boat owners are being warned to secure their properties as the lake continues to dip. Boaters are urged to wear life jackets.

But, as low as it looks, these levels are nowhere near record-setting.

“This lake level, this 906 [feet above sea level] lake level, really is normal for this time of year,” said Oller. "[There is] a lot of water, lot of lake still left. It’s not drying up."

Oller projects the lake to dip to 906 feet in August if the area doesn’t receive a significant amount of rainfall by then. However, he added, it’s important to keep history in perspective. The lake dipped to 899 feet in 2000, and even 893 in 1981.

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